Detection

• Oral cancer is often very hard to detect

• You should do self examinations for the symptoms (red or white patches or bumps inside your mouth or sores that don't heal) once a month.

• Have your dentist check for oral cancer every six months or at every check up

  • Dentists also have screening devices to detect things that are very hard to see.

• If the dentist suspects that you have oral cancer, they will do a biopsy to make sure. This is the only way to know if you have the cancer.

• Dental x-rays: x-ray of your mouth can shows whether cancer has spread to the jaw.
• Chest x-rays: x-rays of your chest and lungs can show whether how far the cancer has spread.
• CT scan: x-ray linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of your body. Tumors show up on the CT scan.
• MRI: powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of the body. MRIs can show whether oral cancer has spread.
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